Machines for printing and issuing postal orders and like forms



May 5 v. w. SPARROW 2,743,669

MACHINES FOR PRINTING AND ISSUING POSTAL ORDERS AND LIKE FORMS Filed Feb. 7. 1951 1Q Sheeis-$heet l Inventor, VERNON WAT/("VS PARROW Attorneys.

y 1, 1956 v. w. SPARROW 2,743,669

MACHINES FOR PRINTING AND ISSUING POSTAL ORDERS AND LIKE FORMS Filed Feb. 7, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inuenion VERNON WATK/NS SPARROW By I Z Attorney:

May 1, 1956 v, w. SPARROW MACHINES FOR PRINTING AND ISSUING POSTAL ORDERS AND LIKE FORMS 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. '7, 1951 b VEZNON WATKINS SPAR??? tzttorneyi May 1, 1956 v. w. SPARROW MACHINES FOR PRINTING AND ISSUING POSTAL ORDERS AND LIKE FORMS l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 7, 1951 F) i Attorney -VERNON WATKINS SPARROW may 1, 1956 v, W. SPARROW 2,743,669

MACHINES FOR PRINTING AND ISSUING POSTAL ORDERS AND LIKE FORMS l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 7, 1951 W O R w m m P m s S m N Emma m G S 2 w vb m N K -O PM N f: r W r a D w C a y n m i M m u 0 c O May 1, 1956 v, w. SPARROW 2,743,659

MACHINES FOR PRINTING AND ISSUING POSTAL ORDERS AND LIKE FORMS Filed Feb. 7, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 VERNON WATKINS SPARROW May 1, 1956 v. w. SPARROW MACHINES FOR PRINTING- AND ISSUING POSTAL ORDERS AND LIKE FORMS Filed Feb. 7 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 I05 Inventor.

VERNON W AT INS SPARROW y H-v Attorne y 1956 v. w. SPARROW 2,743,669

POSTAL. ORDERS AND LIKE FORMS MACHINES FOR PRINTING AND ISSUING 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Feb. 7, 1951 fiventor. VERNON WATKINS SPARROW Home 3;

v. w. SPARROW 2,743,669

10 Sheets-Sheet 9 MACHINES FOR PRINTING AND ISSUING POSTAL ORDERS AND LIKE FORMS May 1, 1956 Filed Feb. 7, 1951 w R R m. s w m I .m U I A W W M u 0 N m V NIH. M 2 u m u n O n J l 9 IIIII/ w mull), 2 r IJ d f, G 3+ a u u .M F fll nl l l lnnm r A m" i: m m I 5 in 6 v2 1 fi- UH ||n|||| 4 u 3 o M e L L May 1, 1956 v. w. SPARROW 2,743,669

MACHINES FOR PRINTING AND ISSUING POSTAL ORDERS AND LIKE FORMS 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Feb. 7, 1951 1n venlol; VERNON WA 'm/vs SPA mow B dam y Attorneys. 4

United States Patent MACHINES FOR PRINTING AND ISSUING POSTAL ORDERS AND LIKE FORMS Vernon Watkins Sparrow, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, assignor to General Register Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 7, 1951, Serial No. 209,732

Claims priority, application Great Britain February 14, 1950 6 Claims. (Cl. 101-93) This invention concerns machines for printing and issuing forms (hereinafter referred to as forms of the char acter described) relating to money transactions wherein there are two separate money values to be taken into account the magnitude of one of which varies in dependence upon the magnitude of the other, but in a non-proportionate manner.

The invention more especially concerns a machine for printing and issuing postal orders. As is known, a postal order carries two money value markings upon it, one representing the exchange value of the order and the other the poundage value. The magnitude of the poundage value increases with that of the exchange value. The increases is, however, in steps each embracing a range of successive increases in the exchange value. The result is that although the poundage value increases in dependence upon the exchange value it does so in a non-proportionate manner.

Heretofore postal orders have had the exchange and poundage values pre-printed upon them, although where the exchange value is a value between 6d. and 1/ or be tween an odd-number multiple of 6d. and 1/- or a multiple thereof, or in the case of a higher-value order, be tween two successive multiples of 1/-, a form is used the exchange value of which is that of the nearest 6d., or in the case of a higher-value order, the nearest 1/- below the required value, and the latter value is made up on the form by the application of postage stamps thereto. The date of issue of the order, also the postal district of the ofiice of issue, are usually stamped on the form by the clerk issuing it.

As applied to machines for printing and issuing postal orders, the object of the invention is to provide a machine in which at least the exchange and poundage values and preferably also the other data mentioned, are printed on the form at the time of issue thereof, blank forms being used in the machine, drawn from a supply thereof accommodated in the machine.

While as stated the invention is more especially concerned with a machine for printing and issuing postal orders, it is applicable generally to machines for printing and issuing forms of the character described. For example it would be applicable to a machine for printing and issuing payment receipts in respect of sales transactions involving the payment of a dividend or bonus to the customer.

According to the invention, a machine for printing and issuing forms of the character described comprises two separate series of type elements allocated respectively to the printing of the two money values to be printed upon the form (which values will hereinafter be referred to for convenience as the primary" value and the secondary value) and subject to a single control as regards setting of the elements for the printing operation, by a hand operated mechanism common to them both.

According to one general form of the invention, which is the form employed in a preferred embodiment of the invention hereinafter described, the series of type elements allocated to the printing of the primary value are set by the hand operated mechanism and the other series of type elements, allocated to the printing of the secondary value, are set by a separate mechanism whose functioning is dependent upon the setting of a movable part or parts by the first mentioned mechanism in consequence of actuation of the latter to set the first mentioned series of type elements.

Further according to the invention, the movable part or parts referred to in the preceding paragraph which are set by the hand operated mechanism referred to therein may consist of a cam or cams arranged to cooperate with a feeler or feelers in operative connection with the separate mechanism. It is to be understood, however, that the form of this part or of these parts will vary widely, according for example to the general constructional design of the machine.

Further according to the invention, the separate mechanism referred to may be actuated through the intermediary of a manual control member for the machine and where, as in the aforesaid particular embodiment of the invention, the machine is electrically driven by a motor controlled by a switch incorporated in the machine, the manual control member may operate the switch in the direction to initiate a cycle of operation of the machine and in the course of doing so actuate or permit the actuation of the separate mechanism, the arrangement being such that that mechanism is actuated, with consequent setting of the type elements associated therewith, before the cycle of operation commences.

The form of the type elements of the machine may also vary Widely, according for example to the general design and operational requirements of the machine. According to a generally preferred form of the invention, however, the type elements of one of the series thereof are constituted by type carried upon the respective peripheries of a series of drums or drum segments independently adjustable for the purposes of the setting operation about an axis of rotation common to them all, the arrangement being one in which when the elements are in their set positions for the printing operation the type thereon which are thus composed for the operation are disposed along a line crossing the peripheries of the elements and parallel to said axis of rotation thereof, while the type elements of the other series thereof are constituted by successive portions of the periphery of a single drum or drum segment common to the whole series of elements, the drum or drum segment being angularly adjustable about its axis for the purposes of the setting operation. In the case of a machine for printing and issuing postal orders, the first mentioned series of type elements would be allocated to the printing of the exchange value of the order and the other series to the printing of the poundage value.

Further according to the invention, the latter comprises certain additional features of novelty which will be severally described in What follows herein and specifically claimed in the accompanying claims. The said additional features include features relating to the constructional details of the setting means for the various type. elements of the machine; of the means for inking the type elements; of the means for feeding the forms to be printed to printing position in the machine and then delivering them after the printing operation to a position at which they may be removed from the machine for use as required, and of certain mechanisms embodied in the machine for ensuring that the machine shall be automatically locked against operation in certain events hereinafter described.

As will be appreciated, a machine in accordance with this invention has inherently the important advantage that it only requires manipulation of one hand-operated control means for setting the various type elements of the of turning knobs disposed say one at either'side of the machine and allocated one to the -shil-li-ngs portion of the exchange value of the form and the other to the pence portion thereof, the arrangement being such that the only operations necessary in the issuance of an order are (1) the manipulation asnecessary of the knobs, and ('2) the initiation of a cycle of operation of the machine by actuation of the control member aforesaid thereof.

- Conveniently, as in the case of the aforesaid embodiment of the invention hereinafter described, the machine may-be constructed in the form of two complementary,

units, an upper unit comprising inter alia the printing elements and the setting means therefor and a lower unit comprising inter alia the means for inking the type 7 elements, the means for feeding the forms from a supply thereof accommodated in the machine to printing position in the machine and thence following the printing operation toa, delivery position located exteriorly of the machinathe means for effecting aprinting operation following upon the feeding of the form to be printed to printingposition in the machine, the driving motorof the machine and the various operative connections provided between the driving motor and the parts of the machine'which are driven thereby. 5 I

' In the case, for example, ofa machine for printing and issuingpostal orders, the upperunit in such a two-part construction will generally be readily removable from operative position over the lower unit to enable it at the end. of a period of use of the machine fo'rexample at the end of the day, to be removed and placed under lock and key to preventtamperingwith thetotalising mechanisms of the machine by some unauthorized person, it being understood that a machine in accordance with the invention would generally incorporate a mechanism' or mechanisms for automatically totalising the primary and secondary values'printed on the formas issued by the machine. In such a case itis highly important, of course, that provision shall 'be made against tampering with these mechanisms, and a two-part construct-ion as visualized above has this desideratum especially in mind.

V Inaddition, it enables a machine to be designed which is more-readily portable by reason of the fact-that itis const-ructed in two parts'which can be transported separately.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the aforesaid particular embodiment purely: byway of example, the machine illustrated being a two-part machine as aboverefer-red to for the printing and issuing of postal orders. 7

In the drawings:

Figure 1-' is a front elevation of the upper unit of the machine;

Figure machine;

Figure '3 is a vertical section through the upper unit, taken on the section line 3-3 of- Figure 2 anddrawn one larger scale than Figures '1' and 2;

Figures 4, Sand 6 are similar sections on the-lines 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6 respectively;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section through Figured taken on the sect-iontline 77 thereof with certairrpants omitted for thesakeoficlearness; Figure 8 is an axial section through the type elements of the machine that are allocated to the printing ofthe exchange value of the order, the view showing certain additional parts hereinafter described in addition tothe type elements referred to; e

E gu rsi .0 2 13 an arefrag,ni qntaryv v ews. llus atin if eren se ngs. f the, type, elemen s of. he ma hin co re pon ng r sp c iv ly o di eren exch nge 2 is a plan view of the upper unit ofthe v i "4 a valuesof the order and correspondingly different poundage values thereof; 7

Figure 15 is a front elevation of machine, with certain parts omitted;

Figure 16 is a side elevation of the lower unit, looking in the direction of the arrow 16 in Figure 15 Figure 17 is a fragmentary side elevation of; the lower, unit, looking in the direction of the arrow 1-7 in Figure 15;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary vertical section through Figure 15 taken on the section line 18-18thereof;'

Figure 19 is a plan view of thelower unit with certain parts omitted;

Figure 20 is a front elevation of the complete machine the lower unit of the drawn on a smaller scale than the preceding figures, and

Figure 21 shows a postal order as; printed and issued by the machine.

Like reference numerals are applied to like parts in the various figures of the drawings.

The: machine shown comprises an. upper n t. g nerally marked A in Figure 20,, and a lower unit, generally marked, The upper unit is removably mounted upon the lower unit in the manner hereinbefore. described. It is o'mo n d. thereon hro gh h ntermediarvot up.- standing bearers, 1, Z, 3,, '4, on the lower unit and, laterally extending spigot members 5 on the upper unit, the members, 5 being received within notches. 6 in the bearer members,

The-two units A, B. will now be described separately, as follows:

Upper unit This unit comprises a rigid framework consisting of side members 7, 8 rigidly secured together at the back of the machine by a rearmernber-9, and at the front of themachine by a pair of crossrodslt), 11. 1

Rotatably mounted in a journal bearing 12 in the side member 7 of the framework is a horizontal shaft l3, and rotatably mounted in a second journal bearing "14 in the sidemember 8'of the framework isa second horizontal shaft-15. The two shafts 13, 15 are coaxial with one another and their adjacent ends are mutually supporting with respect to one another, a spigot '16 on the shaft 15 being rotationally received within a journal bearing 17"provided to receive it in the end of the shaft Figure 8 shows the construction in this respect.

' Mounted on the shafts 13, 15 are the type elements of the machine that are allocated to the printing-cf the exchange value of the order.

These type elements, which as shown taa'c the form of drums as hereinbcfore referred to, carry g-thc type, or the periphery thereof, comprise a counterfoil shillings drum 13 for printing on the countcrfoilof the order the shillings figure of the exchange vaine in numerals (fl, 2, 3" etc); a counterfeit pence drum Tia-for printing on the counterfoil of the order the pence figure of the exchange value innumerals ('1, 2, 3 etc..),; a shillings drum 20 for printing, on the order itself the shillings figure of the exchange value in letters (@ne," Two, Three etc.): a drum 21' associated with the shillings drum 20' and adapted to; print on the order the word, snilling"" or shili'ings against the shillings figure of the exchange value as printed in letters by the drum 2G; a pence drum 22, for printing on the order'the pence figure of the exchange value in letters (One Penny, fTwopence, Threepence etc a shillings drum 23 for printing on the ordertiie shillings figure. of the exchange value in numerals i,?"2; 3 etc), and ap'cnce d'rpm 2 4 for printing on the order the pence figure of the exchange value in numerals, (51 etc).

Drum 13, is fast with shaft 13, drums 1 9, 2 2, and 2,4 are fast with shaft 13 and drums 20,21, and 2 3 are revoluhbcndnf .5-. v

Fast with drum, 13. is a toothed wheel 25. Fast with r ms 10,, 2.1. is ec nd too he Wheel 216,-. Fas wi h rum. 2.3 is a hitdtq thedwhecl. 27:

Disposed parallel to the shafts 13, 15 and revolubly mounted in hearings in the side member 7 of the framework of the unit is a countershaft 28. Fast on this shaft are three toothed wheels 29, 30, 31 respectively meshing with the wheels 25, 26, 27. (Figure 8.)

Also fast on countershaft 28 is a toothed wheel 32 (Figure 2) whose function is co-operation with a spring controlled pawl 33 is accurately to locate the drums 18, 20, 21 and 23 in true printing position upon being adjusted thereto (possibly only approximately) by the hand-operated setting mechanism of the machine, later described.

From the foregoing it will be understood that drums 18, 20, 21 and 23 all rotate as one whenever shaft 13 is rotated, and drums 19, 22 and 24 similarly all rotate as one whenever shaft 15 is rotated.

Shaft 13 is rotated by manipulation of a turning l-znob 34 at the left of the unit (Figure 1).' Shaft 15 is rotated by manipulation of a turning knob 35 at the right of the unit. These knobs form, as will be appreciated, part of the hand-operated setting mechanism for the type elements of the machine which are allocated to the printing of the exchange value of the order.

Fast with shaft 15 is a toothed wheel 36 associated with a spring controlled pawl 37. tion of this wheel and pawl is accurately to assembly of drums 19, 22 tion upon being adjusted knob 35.

The drums are all of the same peripheral diameter and as shown the portions (marked T) of their respective peripheries whereat the printing type are carried thereon are all in line with one another axially of the drums, the printing line (shown in chain line at 38 in several of the figures) being vertically beneath the axis of the shafts 13, 15.

Disposed parallel to the shafts 13, 15 and forward thereof is a shaft 39 carried in bearings on a part in stationary relation to the framework of the unit.

Fast with this shaft is a drum 46 carrying on four successive portions of the periphery thereof four flats 41, 42, 43, 44 (see Figures 9 to 14). These four flats carry printing type. The type on flat 41 prints a blank marking, while the type on the flats 42, 43 and 44 print re spectively the words Penny, Three Halfpence" and Two Pence, which represent the poundage values of the orders to be issued in the machine, corresponding respectively to the following ranges of exchange values: 6d. to 1/5d.; l/6d. to S/lld, and 6/- to 21/l1d.

The successive printing elements constituted respectively by the successive portions of the periphery of the drum 49 and the type carried thereon, are brought into printing position under the control. of the mechanism for setting the drums 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, which mechanism includes the turning knobs 34, 35, the shafts 13, 15 associated therewith and the toothed wheels 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31.

To this end the following construction is employed:

Shaft 13 carries, fast with it, and therefore fast with drum 13, a shillings cam 45 the shape of which is clearly shown in Figures 9 to 14, and fast with drum 19 is a Pence cam 46 whose shape is also clearly shown in said Figures 9 to 14, the two cams being batched in Figure 9 with lines which in the case of cam 45 slope to the left and in the case of cam 46 slope to the right.

Associated with the cams 45, 46 are two feelers as hereinbefore referred to.

One of these feelers consists of a U-shaped member formed with two limbs 47, 48 (see Figure 2) one of which (47) cooperates with cam 45 and the other (43) with cam 46.

This feeler is mounted on the rearwardly presented face of a plate 49 secured at the two ends thereof to a pair of downwardly directed arms 50, 51 forming part of a swinging structure comprising these arms, a third downwardly directed arm 52 and, in rigid connection (Figure 2) The funclocate the and 24 in true printing posithereto by rotation of the with the arms 50, 51, 52, a horizontal bar 53, the said structure being swingably mounted on the cross rod 10 of the framework of the unit and being swung rearwardly of the machine at each operation thereof, to bring the free end of one or other of the limbs 47, 48 of the U-shaped feeler into engagement with the periphery of the corresponding cam or 46, in consequence of rearward manipulation of a reciprocatable bar54 slidingly mounted on the framework of the lower unit of the machine and constituting the control member of the machine as hereinbefore referred to.

T he operative connection between the bar 54 and the swinging structure comprises the forward end portion 55 of a U-shaped stirrup 56 (see Figure 16) normally urged rearwardly of the machine by a spring 57 anchored at 53 to a part 59 in stationary relation to the bar 54, and an abutment block 60 on said portion 55 of the stirrup, the bioclt 6t) normally bearing against the forward edge of the arm 52 of the swinging structure. The arrangement is such that inward movement of the control bar 54 (i. e. in the direction towards the rear of the machine) which inward movement, by operating a switch (not shown) in the lower unit controlling an electric motor 61 therein (see Figure 20), initiates a cycle of operation of the machine, is accompanied by a corresponding rearward movement of the stirrup 56 (under the pull of the spring 57), which in turn, through the intermediary of the block 60, produces a swinging movement in the direction towards the rear of the machine of the swinging structure. The control bar 54 is returned, with consequent return of the swinging structure to normal position (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 16, 17, 20), by a returning spring (not shown) provided in the upper unit.

The other feeler is constituted by an arm 62 projecting rearwardly of the machine in the general plane of pence cam 46, from a bar 63 pivoted at 64 to the arms 50, 51 of the swinging structure, so as to have a freedom for swinging movement in a vertical plane relatively to said structure, from a raised (operative) position in which it appears in Figures 11 and 12 and which it occupies when the drums 18, 20, 21 and 23 are set at the shilling position around the axis of the shafts 13, 15, to a lowered (inoperative) position in which it appears in Figures 3, 9, 10, 13 and 14 and which it occupies in all other settings of the said drums 18, 20, 21 and 23.

The feeler 62 is moved from the lowered position to the raised position by a lever 65 pivoted at 66 to the side member 7 of the framework of the upper unit, said lever being itself moved to the raised position (to raise the feeler) by a pip 67 on the periphery of a rotary cam 68 fast with the shaft 13 and therefore with the drum 18 and carrying also an axially directed cam 69 whose function will be described later, when the drums 18, 20, 21 and 23 are in said shilling position, said pip 67 cooperating to this end with a follower pin 70 on the lever and the lever communicating its motion to the feeler through a pin 71 on the free end of the lever and an arm 72 on the bar 63.

As will be seen from Figures 11 and 12, feeler 62 reaches to a position beyond the free extremities of the limbs of the U-shaped feeler 47, 48 when it is in the raised position. Consequently, when it is in this position it operates to limit the rearward (operative) movement of the swinging structure, relatively to any given portion of the cam 46, to an extent which exceeds that to which the movement would be limited by the feeler 47, 48.

In any given setting of the drums 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 of the machine, except when the drums 18, 20, 21 and 23 are in the shilling setting as above described, the U-shaped feeler will engage, by the corresponding limb (47) or (48) (and of course upon the swinging struc ture being moved through its operative stroke in consequence of actuation of the control bar 54 in the manner above described) one or other of the cams 45, 46according towhich of these: cams, with the drums in the given setting thereof, is carrying the cam surface most remote from the axis of rotation of the shafts 13, at a position therearound opposite the free ends of the limbs of the feeler. In certain settings of the drums the U-shaped feeler will engage both of the cams, as for instance in the setting illustrated in Figure 9.

The necessity for providing in the machine two feelers (47, 48 and 62) will be indicated later.

' As shown, most clearly in Figures 9 to 14, the downwardly directed arm 51 ofthe swinging structure carries along the lower edge thereof an arcuate rack 73.

This rack meshes constantly with a second arcuate rack 74 on the shaft 39, said rack 74 being concentric with said shaft 39 and being located along a portion of the periphery of the shaft which is on the diametrically opposite side of the axis of the shaft to the side at which the flats .41, 42, 43 and 44 of the type element drum are located (see Figures 9 to 14).

The arrangement is such that rearward movement of the swinging structure produces rotation of the drum 49 to an extent which is proportional to the angular stroke of the swinging structure, which stroke is limited and determined by the action of the cam or 46 and one or other of the associated feelers, in the manner above described.

The action in this respect is illustrated in Figures 9 to 14, which show the relative position of the parts in the following series of settings of. the type elements of the machine: 7

Rest" setting (no shillings, no pence)--Figure 9.

6d. setting-Figure 10 l/- settingFigure 11 1/ 6d. setting-Figure 12 V 2/- setting--Figure 13 12/6 settingFigure 14 value 1/5d., the next succeeding range commencing at l-/6d. It is necessary, therefore, to provide an additional fceler (feeler 62) to accommodatethis particular change point in the poundagezvalues. This will be apparent from aperusal of Figures 9 to 14.

Thus between the Rest? setting (Figure 9) and the 5d. setting limb 48' of the U-shaped feeler engages inset portion 75 of pence cam 46, limb 47 continuing to engage inset portion 76 of shillings cam 45, since this cam has not yet been displaced from its Rest position.

At the. 6d. setting (Figure 10'), limb 48 engages portion 77 of pence cam 46, limb 47 being now free from engagement with. cam 45.

Between the 6d. setting and the 11d. setting, limb 43 continues to engage portion 77 of cam'46- and limb 47 continues to be free. from engagement with cam 45, since shillings cam 45 has still not yet been displaced from its Rest position.

At the 1/- setting (Figure '11), feeler62 is in the raised position and: takes over the action from the u-shaped feeler ('47, 48.). As shown, it is in engagement. withinset. portion 75 of pence cam 46. in engagement with said portion 75 throughout the following successive settings upv toand including the l/Sd.

setting.

At the- 1/6id'. setting (Figure 12*), feeler 62 engages portion 77' of; pence. cam 46 and it remains in engage- It remains all) ment therewith through the succeeding, settings up to and including the 1/ 11d. setting.

At the 2/ setting (Figure 13), feeler 62 is again in the lowered (inoperative) position and the action is again taken over by the U-shaped feeler 47, 48, limb 47 engag- #1 5 and it continues to engage this portion throughout the succeeding settings up to and including the 21/ lid. setting.

In this way an arrangement is provided in which, in accordance with the broadest aspect of the invention. as hereinbefore indicated, the two separate series of type elements (viz. the exchange value type drums 13, 19, 2t), 21, 22, 23 and 24 and the poundage value type drum. sill)- are subject to a single control. as regards setting of the elements for the printing operation, by a hand-operated mechanism (viz. knobs 34, 35 and the associated shafts 13, 15, countershaft 28 and toothed Wheels 25, 25, 27, 29, 3t 31) common to them both, the arrangement described being one in which, more specifically, the type elements allocated to the printing of the primary value (viz. the exchange value) are set by a hand-operated mechanism as referred to and the other series allocated to the printing of the secondary value (viz. the poundage value) are set by a separate mechanism (viz. the control bar 54, portion 55 of stirrup 56, abutment block swinging structure 50, 51, 52, 53) whose functioning is dependent upon the setting of a movable part or parts (cams 45, 46) by the first mentioned mechanism (knobs 3 B, 35 etc.) in consequence of actuation of the latter to set the first mentioned type elements (drums 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24).

Mounted on the front of the upper unit of the machine are two totalising mechanisms allocated one tothe summation of exchange values and the other to the summation of poundage values.

These mechanisms, which are not shown on the draw ings, as in themselves they form no part of the present invention, are mounted on a bearer plate (or the equivalent) Sti (see Figure 20) and are actuated by drive from the motor 61 through the intermediary of a vertically reciprocatable plunger 31 on the lower unit, a stirrup 82 on the upper unit oscillatable with the reciprocations of plunger 81 about a horizontal axis 83, a series of levers 84, 85, 86 fulcrumed on a shaft 37 extending across the interior space of the framework of the upper unit, and. a corresponding series of vertically reciprocatable racks 83, 39, 90 guided in their. operative movement by guide. slots 91, 92, 93 in three guide plates 94, 95, 96 carried. in stationary relation to the framework of the upper unit, upon the cross rods 19, 11 thereof.

Stirrup 82 is raised (by plunger 81) against the pull of a tension spring 97 and levers $4, 35, are engaged at the rear (tail) end thereof by stirruptif! through the intermediary of adjustable screw stops )8. 7

At the forward end the levers 34, $6 are operatively connected to the respective racks 38., 99 through the intermediary of rollers 99 on the racks engaging in notches 1% on the levers. In the case of lever 85, the operative connection between this lever and the corresponding rack 89 is through a second lever 101 fulcrumed on the shaft 37 and in rigid connection with lever 35 through a connecting bracket 1112, and a roller 99 on the rack engaging in a notch 1% on the free end of lever 191.

Plunger $1 is raised and lowered once per cycle of operation of the machine, in time with the movements of the various other motor-driven parts of the machine.

The operative stroke of the plunger is constant, being the same for all settings of the type elements of the machine. The strokes of the levers S4, S5, 86' vary however with these settings. e

Thus, associated with each lever is a cam which is set simultaneously with the type elements and which func' tions to limit and so determine the operative movement of the corresponding lever. The arrangement in this respect is as follows:

Lever 84, which is associated with the poundage totalising mechanism, is associated with a cam constituted by a series of stop ledges 103, 104, 105, 106 carried on the downwardly directed arm 51 of the swinging structure hereinbefore referred to, said cam co-operating with a pin 107 on rack 83.

Lever 85, which is associated with the shillings portion of the exchange value totalising mechanism, is associated with a stepped-snail cam 108 (see Figure 4) fast with shillings type drum 23.

Lever 86, which is associated with the pence portion of the exchange value totalising mechanisn is associated with a second stepped-snail cam 109 (Figure 6) fast with shaft 15 and therefore with pence type drum 24.

According to the setting of the shillings series of type drums (18, 20, 21 and 23) so is determined the angular setting of the shillings cam 108 and therewith the throw of the shillings lever unit 85, 101, 102. According to the setting of the pence series of type drums (19, 22 and 24) so is determined the angular setting of the pence cam 109 and therewith the throw of the pence lever ss.

According to the setting of the poundage type drum 40, so is determined the angular setting of thearm 51 of the swinging structure and therefore the stop position of the pin 107 on rack 38, since this pin is designed to engage selectively one or other of the ledges 103, 104, 105, 106 on arm 51, as illustrated in Figures 9 to 14.

In order to accommodate the varying operative strokes of movement of the levers 84, 85, 86 relative to the coin stant stroke of plunger 81, freedom for lost motion is provided, through the intermediary of the stirrup 82, as between the levers on the one hand and the plunger on the other, thereby enabling the plunger to continue in its upward stroke after any one of the levers has become arrested in its downward stroke by the This lost motion takes place against the spring 110 (Figure 3).

It will be understood of course that the elfective stroke of the racks 88, 89, 90 is the upward and further, that the increment of operative advance of the totalising mechanisms is proportional in each case to the movement of the corresponding rack.

It will also be appreciated that the successive steps in the periphery of the cams 108, 109 are allocated respectively to successive steps in the corresponding portion (shillings or pence) of the exchange value.

The swinging structure aforesaid is automatically returned to normal position on release of the control bar 54, by a returning spring (not shown).

The upper unit of the machine further comprises a device for marking a line 112 (Figure 21) e. g. in red or some other distinguishing color, on the postal order as it is being delivered tothe tear-off position, following the printing operation.

This device comprises an inked marker in the form of a roller 113 (see Figures 3 and 7) carried on a swinging bracket 114 pivoted to the side member 7 of the framework of the unit, so as to have two positions-a raised (inoperative) position which it occupies when the exchange value of the order is any value below l/ and a lowered (operative) position which it occupies when the exchange value is l()/- or any value thereabove.

The roller 113 is inked by an inking roller 115 also carried on the bracket and the unit comprising the bracket and the two rollers thereon is moved from the position in which the marking roller 113 is in the lowered (operative) position to the position in which said roller is in the raised (inoperative) positon, by the axially directed cam 69 aforesaid on the cam 68, operating, against a returnassociated cam. pull of a tension 1O ing spring 116, through a cam follower roller 117 on the bracket.

As later described more particularly, the order form to be printed is fed to printing position in the machine upon a carriage translatable rearwardly and then forwardly of the machine at each cycle of operation thereof. It is necessary, therefore, to provide some means for temporarily lifting inking roller 113 clear of the path of the form in position on said carriage during the reciprocation of the latter-i. e. at all exchange values of 10/ and over.

For this purpose an upwardly directed projection (not shown) is provided on the lower unit of the machine, adapted by engaging the underside of a cam plate 118 on the bracket 114 in all positions of the carriage in the course of its reciprocation from and to normal (printing) position, to turn the bracket about its pivot to the position in which the inking roller 113 is in the raised (inoperative) position.

It is also desirable to provide that the roller 113 shall drop to the lowered (operative) position only after commencement of movement of the printed order to the tearoflf position. The means provided for this purpose will be described later.

The upper unit further comprises a device for printing on the order the date of issue thereof; a type block for printing on the order the otfice of issue; and a second type block for printing on the order the code letter (or number) of the clerk operating the machine.

The dating device consists of an assembly of manually settable type drums 119 rotationally mounted on a part coaxial with the shaft 39 which carries the poundage value type drum 40.

The type block for printing the office of issue is marked 120 and is a fixture in the unit.

The other type block, for printing the code letter of the operator, is marked 121 and is carried on a bar 122, slidably mounted in guide members therefor 123 in stationary relation to the framework of the unit. The arrangement is such that there is a bar 122 for each clerk that will operate the machine, and that clerk inserts his bar into operative position in the machine when he (or she) takes over the machine for the current period of use thereof.

The arrangement is further such that the machine can only be operated when the bar 122 is in operative position in the machine. For this purpose, an interlocking device is provided, consisting of a vertically movable locking plate 124 (see Figure 16) on the lower unit of the machine, which is yieldingly controlled in the downward direction towards an effective (locking) position in which a flange 125 on the lower end of the plate engages a notch 126 in the upper edge of the control bar 54 so as to prevent any movement of that bar, the plate 124 having in it an opening (or notch) 127 through which the code bar 122 extends when in position in the machine. When the code bar is not in the machine the plate is in its lowered (effective) position and the control bar is locked against actuation.

The upper unit further comprises means for ensuring that the machine shall only be operable (in consequence of actuation of the control bar-54) when the exchange value type drums 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 are in correct alignment with one another as regards the portions T of their peripheries.

For this purpose, an alignment stirrup 130 is provided in the unit, mounted upon and swingable about the axis of the shaft 28 (see Figure 16). This stirrup carries along the free edge thereof a nose bar 131 adapted to enter the spaces 132 between successive portions T of the peripheries of the type drums, only when these are in correct alignment with one another in the sense indicated, the entry of the nose bar into said spaces being consequent on swinging movement of the stirrup 130 in the clockwise direction (in Figure 16), against the pull V which is so positioned on the stirrup as. to lie in the path of the. surface 134 as the'control bar54 is moved rearwardly, the arrangement being such that immediately the bar 54 is moved the cam action as between surface 134 androller 137 occurs, with resulting entry of the nose bar on the stirrup into the spaces between the por-' tions T. In the event .of non-alignment of the type drums, entry of the nose bar into'said spaces is. prevented with consequent prevention of at least completion of. the operative. swinging movement of the stirrup. Further movement of the control bar is, however, still possible, for a short distance, against the pull of a. tension spring 133. operating through the abutment plate 135, since this plate is yieldingly (pivotally) mounted on the part 59. After a small amount of such further movement, an abutment 139 on the part 59 reaches a position of engagement with a ce-operating abutment 14.0 on the stirrup, with resulting arrest of said further movement. curs before the control bar has reached the position in which, by operating the switch aforesaid, it initiates a cycle. of operation of the machine.

A further interlock is provided in the machine, for ensuring that the control bar shall similarly be locked against actuation with consequent initiation of a cycle of operation of the machine, when the form supply in the machine fails or has become exhausted. The means to this end will also be described later.

Lower unit unit comprises a rigid framework 141 carrying the bearers 1, 2, 3, 4 hereinbefore' referred to.

Mounted upon this framework are, inter alia, the

driving motor 61; the reciprocatable carriage upon which the order forms are supported when in printing position (which carriage will hereinafter be referred tosimply as the carriage); a supply receptacle 142 (see Figures 16 and for the order forms, which latter are loaded in the receptacle in continuous-strip zig-zag pack form and are therefore fed in continuous strip form to the printing. position on the carriage; and various parts (some of which will be hereinafter mentioned.) constituting the driving connection between the motor 61 on the one hand and the carriage and other motor driven parts of the machine on the other.

The carriage, which. may take any desired or necessary constructional. form and is generally marked 143, is slidable in the. reciprocatablc movement hereinbefore described, upon a pair of rails 144, 145 on the framework 141, its mounting upon these rails being through the intermediary of slide blocks 146 on the carriage.

The carriage is reciprocated by drive from the motor 61 through an operative connection including toward the end. thereof adjacent the carriage, a vertical shaft 147; a crank 148 fast. therewith; an. arm 149 swingable about a fixed vertical axis 159 and having in it: a slot 151 in which works a cross-head 152 in pivotal connection: with the pin 153 of the crank 148; and a cross-head 154 on the free end of arm 149 Working in aslide 155 on. the carriage. The arrangement is such that each revolution of shaft 147 produces one complete reciprocation of the carriage, from the normal (printing) position in which it appears in full lines in Figure 19, to the rearward position in which it appears in chain line in that figure and'hack to the normal position.

Revolubly mounted in the carriage are. a pair of feed wheels 156, 157 (Figure 19) whichat each cycle. of'operation of the machine co-operate with a feed roller 158, also revolubly mounted on the carriage, to feed the form This oc- 12 strip 159 (Figure 16.) from the supply reservoir 142 to the printing position on the carriage. Feed wheels 156, 157 and feed roller 158 are geared to one another by gearing 160.

The form strip is fed forward by a distance which is exactl" equal to the combined length of an order form and its counterfoil, which latter is issued with the form and afterwards detached therefrom in the usual Way.

The form strip is guided in its movement to the printing position by a curved guide plate 161 (Figures 15, 16) and also between guides 162, 163 (Figure 19) for the two edges of the strip. It also receives support when in the printing position from a plate 164 extending lengthwise of the carriage. a

The form strip is maintained in proper contact with the various guide surfaces guiding it to the printing position, by a series of flexible wipers 165 carried on a spindle 166 revolubly mounted in bearings 167, 167 on the carriage and normally maintained in operative position by tension spring 168 operating through a lever 169 onthe spindle whose position is adjustable as necessary by a set screw 170.

Also mounted on the carriage is an inking roller 171 whose function is to ink the. type on the various type elements of the machine. This roller is absorbent at the periphery and is normally charged with ink.

Beneath roller 171 is a second ink charged roller 172. This roller is maintained in pressure contact with roller 171 by springs 173, 174 pulling inwardly upon the free extremities of the downwardly directed limbs of a pair of hell cranks 175, 176 pivoted at 177 to a part in stationary relation to the framework of the carriage, roller 172 being carried in bearings on the free extremities of the other (horizontally directed) limbs of said bell cranks.

inking roller 17-1 is driven, at a peripheral speed which is equal to the speed of traverse of the carriage, and in a direction which is such that the roller rolls on the face of the type as it inks the same, by drive from a stationary rack 178, transmitted through gearing 179. The

arrangement is such that the roller 171 inks all of the type elements of the machine, including those of the dating device, also the two type blocks which print respectively the oifice of issue and the code letter of the issuing clerk.

The actual printing operation is performed by a pair of pressure rollers 180, 181.

These rollers are reciprocated along the carriage, to the left (in Figure 19), in a raised (operative) position in which they bear upwardly at the periphery against the rear face of the form strip in printing position on the carriage, the pressure of the rollers being exercisedt against the reaction of the type elements, and to the right, in a lowered (inoperative) position in which they are clear of said rear face, once per cycle of operation of the machine.

Rollers 180, 181 are reciprocated. by drive from the motor 61 transmitted through an operative connection therewith including at the end adjacent the rollers, an angularly reciprocatable lever 182 linked to the rollers through a link 183, and they are raised and lowered by upward and downward movement of a guide structure for the rollers, rising and falling in time with the oscillations of the lever 1'82.

The guide structure referred to consists of three rails 134, 185-, 1.86- (Figure 18) rigidly connected together'and pivotally connected at the two ends of the structure to a pair of downwardly directed levers 187, 188 (Figures 15, 17 pivoted. at 189, 190 to the general framework of the. carriage so as to be swingable in. a vertical plane. with resulting raising and lowering of the guide structure.

The levers 187, 188 are moved to the right (in Figure 15) by thrust from the upper end of a lever 191 oscillatahle. through one complete reciprocation once per cycle of operation of the machine under drive from. the motor 61 transmitted through an operative connection therewith (not shown), said thrust being transmitted through 13 a pressure roller 192 on the lever, and to the left by a returning spring (not shown).

In a cycle of operation of the machine the first motion to be performed is the inking of the type elements, which of course have previously been set by manipulation to the required positions of the turning knobs 34, 35. In this first operation, during which the form to be printed is in printing position on the carriage (having been brought thereto during the last preceding cycle of operation of the machine), the carriage performs one complete reciprocation, from and then back to normal (printing) position in the machine.

The next motion is that of the pressure rollers 180, 181, which perform their leftward (operative) stroke and at least commence their rightward (inoperative) stroke, before any feed movement of the form strip takes place.

The printing operation has now been effected and the final motion is the feeding of the form strip forward one step, by the action of the feed wheels 156, 157 and feed roller 158.

This results in (a) delivery of the printed form to the tear-ofi position and (b) in the case of an order whose exchange value is 10/- or over, the marking on the form as it is delivered to this position of a distinguishing line 112 in, say, red ink by the marking roller 113.

Referring again to the marking roller 113, the cam plate 118 on the swinging bracket 114 upon which this roller is mounted has associated therewith an abutment roller 193 at the mid-point of a lever 194 pivoted at 195 to the general framework of the carriage and located in the path of a rotary cam 196 on the spindle of the feed wheels 156, 157, the arrangement being such that through the intermediary of the cam 196, lever 194, roller 193 and cam plate 118, (A) the controlling spring 111 of the bracket is prevented from bringing the marking roller 113 to the lowered (marking) position until shortly after the feed rollers have commenced to feed the form strip forwardly, and (B) towards the end of a cycle of operation of. the feed rollers, the bracket is moved against the control of spring 111 to the position in which the marking roller is clear of the path of the strip. In this way it is positively ensured that the distinguishing line which is marked on the order shall be confined to the order in course of being issued.

The device hereinbefore alluded to, by which in the event of the supply of forms to be printed failing for any reason, it will be impossible to start the machine, comprises a bell crank 200 pivoted to the general framework of the carriage to swing in a vertical plane. On one arm of this bell crank is a feeler 201 normally bearing, under thrust derived from a yielding control acting on the bell crank, against the face of the form strip 159, the arrangement being such that the feeler is held in this way in a position to maintain the other arm of the bell crank out of engaging position relatively to a notch 202 in the underside of the control bar 54. If the supply of forms should fail, feeler 201 will move into the path of the strip and interlocking will occur as between the latter mentioned arm of the bell crank and the control bar 54. It will now be impossible to start the machine, since it is impossible to actuate the control rod.

It will be seen that the pressure roller (180) which prints the exchange value on the order is peripherally grooved with fine closely spaced grooves. By this means the exchange value is printed on the order in letters and numerals which are made up of a series of closely spaced lines extending parallel to the direction of length of the order. Characters in this form are more difficult to tamper with and alter than ordinary solid line characters.

If desired, the machine may embody means for operating it by hand. Such means (which are not shown) may conveniently comprise a turning handle, say at the right hand side of the machine, suitably connected to the driving connection between the motor 61 and the various motor driven parts of the machine, at a point therein convenient for the integration thus of the two drives-the power drive and the manual drive. Any desired arrangement may be employed in this respect.

Various modifications are obviously possible, as regards constructional details. For example, the form and arrangement of the various type elements may vary widely according to the requirements of the machine, as also may the form of the manual setting mechanism therefor, the form of the means employed for feeding the strip of forms to and from printing position and the form of the means used in the actual printing operation. The type elements may, as already indicated, he of drum segment form instead of complete drum form and it may be remarked here that the term drum is used herein and in the accompanying claims without respect to the axial length of the drum which can be of any desired or necessary magnitude, according, for example, to the operational requirements of the machine.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for printing and issuing forms or the like comprising means for feeding a portion of a supply strip to a printing position, two sets of value printing devices, means for adjusting one set of said printing devices, means controlled by the adjustment of the first set of said printing devices to adjust correspondingly the second set of said printing devices but to non-linearly related values, the last named means comprising cams adjusted simultaneously with the first set of printing devices in response to operation of the means for adjusting said one set of said devices and means including feelers controlled by said cams for adjusting said second set of said printing devices, and means for actuating said two sets of value printing devices to print upon said positioned portion of said supply strip.

2. A machine for printing and issuing forms or the like comprising means for feeding a portion of a supply strip to a printing position, two sets of value printing devices, means for adjusting one set of said printing devices, means controlled by the adjustment of the first set of said printing devices to adjust correspondingly the second set of said printing devices but to non-linearly related values, the last named means comprising cams adjusted simultaneously with the first set of printing devices in response to operation of the means for adjusting said one set of said devices, feelers engaging said cams and means displaced by movement of said feelers in response to adjustment of said cams for adjusting said second set of printing means and means for actuating said two sets of value printing devices to print upon said positioned portion of said supply strip.

3. A machine for printing and issuing forms or the like comprising means for feeding a portion of a supply strip to a printing position, value printing devices, means for adjusting said value printing devices, means for printing selected additional matter when said value printing devices are adjusted to a value on one numerical side of any of a plurality of disproportionate non-linearly related predetermined values, and means for actuating said value printing devices to print upon said positioned portion of said supply strip.

4. A machine for printing and issuing forms or the like comprising means for feeding a portion of a supply strip to a printing position, value printing devices, means for adjusting said value printing devices, means for printing a selected one of a plurality of specific additional matters, means responsive to non-linear increments of value adjustment of said value printing device by said value printing adjusting means for selecting successive specific ones of said plurality of specific additional matters to be printed, and means for actuating said value printing devices to print upon said positioned portion of said supply strip.

5. A machine for printing and issuing forms or the like comprising means for feeding a portion of a supply strip to a printing position, value printing means including two independently adjustable printing devices, a pair of cams,

each of said-cams being in fixed relation with one of said two printing devices, a third printing device, means including a plurality of fingers adapted to variously engage said cams and means variously positioned in response to various engagementsof said fingers with said cams to position said third printing device in corresponding but non-linear relation to the position of said two printing devices, and means for actuating said three printing devices to print upon said positioned portion of said supply strip.

6. A machine for printing and issuing forms or the like comprising means for feeding a portion of a supply strip to a printing position, two sets or" value printing devices, setting means for moving one set of said printing devices, means including a manually operated member .for initiating operation of the machine, means actuated by the movement of the first set of said printing devices and by said member to move the second set of said printing devices a disproportionate and non-linearly related extent 'in response to a single setting operation, and means for actuating said two sets of value printing devices toprint upon said positioned portion of said supply strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,210,071 Hoffman Dec. 26, 1916 1,229,844 White June 12, 1917 1,338,014 Hart Apr. 27, 1920 1,693,279 Kreider Nov. 27, 1928 1,842,086 Hartley Jan. 19, 1932 1,984,141 Komusin Dec. 11, 1934 2,019,442 Buehler Oct. 29, 1935 2,089,447 Sundstrand Aug. 10, 1937 2,111,128 Rast Mar. 15, 1938 2,113,352 McClure Apr. 5, 1938 2,176,371 Wahl Oct. 17, 1939 2,226,980 Rast t Dec. 31, 1940 2 332,304 Davies Oct. 19, 1943 2,346,249 Bryce Apr. 11, 1944 2,408,134 Broido ,...,.t Sept. 24, 1946 

